16 May 2025
Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc
(the `Company')
Monthly Update - April 2025
The Company's monthly factsheet as at 30 April 2025 is now available:
https://awemtrust.com/factsheet/
The Company NAV was down 2.3% in April 2025, underperforming the benchmark by
0.23%. The key contributors include Benefit Systems (+12.5%, largest provider
of employee well-being services in Poland), MercadoLibre (+15.5%, largest
e-commerce market place in Latam), and Diagnostyka (+13.3%, largest private
provider of laboratory diagnostic services in Poland), whereas Alibaba
(-11.0%, Chinese company specializing in e-commerce, cloud computing, and
digital media), OneSource (-9.2%, leading CDMO service provider from India),
and E Ink Holdings (-16.0%, a Taiwan based company with a dominant,
near-monopoly position in the electronic paper industry) were the key
detractors.
Market Review
In April 2025, the MSCI EM index was down 2.1%. It outperformed other global
indices like the US equities (S&P 500) and MSCI World which returned -4.0% and
-2.4%, respectively.
For the month, Consumer Staples and Real Estate outperformed, while Consumer
Discretionary and Energy underperformed. Large caps underperformed mid and
small caps this month. Among major EM markets, Mexico and Poland outperformed,
while China and Saudi Arabia underperformed.
Top 10 Holdings
Top 10 holdings (as at 30 April 2025) Country % of NAV
1. TSMC Taiwan 7.9
1. Alibaba Group Holding China/HK 3.7
1. Tencent Holdings China/HK 2.5
1. Naspers South Africa 2.5
1. OneSource Specialty Pharma India 2.2
1. Samsung Electronics South Korea 2.2
1. Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing China/HK 1.8
1. CIE Fin. Richemont Switzerland 1.4
1. Inventurus Knowledge Solutions India 1.4
1. Benefit Systems Poland 1.1
Total 26.7%
Key Contributors
April 2025 Key Contributors Ending Weight (%) Total Return (%) Contribution to Return (bps)
Benefit Systems 1.1 +12.5 +13
MercadoLibre 0.8 +15.5 +12
Vivara Participacoes SA 1.0 +12.3 +11
Diagnostyka S.A. 0.9 +13.3 +11
Artemis Gold 0.6 +16.5 +10
Key Detractors
April 2025 Key Detractors Ending Weight (%) Total Return (%) Contribution to Return (bps)
Alibaba Group Holdings 3.7 -11.0 -49
OneSource Specialty Pharma 2.2 -9.2 -21
Tencent Holdings 2.6 -6.9 -21
E Ink Holdings 0.7 -16.0 -15
Cowell e Holdings 0.4 -24.8 -15
Source: Factset. Past performance does not predict future returns. The
performance calculation is based on GBP. Currency fluctuations will also
affect the value of an investment.
About Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc
Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc (AWEMT) is a UK investment trust
seeking to achieve long-term capital appreciation primarily through investing
in a multi-cap portfolio of equities that provide exposure to global emerging
markets. Advised by White Oak Capital Partners Pte. Ltd, founded by Prashant
Khemka with leading Emerging Markets investment experience. White Oak
Capital Group has delivered an exceptional track record for its other
strategies, and has £5.1 billion in assets under management or advisory4.
Analytical approach integral to disciplined research process underpinned by
proprietary frameworks OpcoFinco™ for valuation and ABLEx™ for ESG
research. The team at WhiteOak believes that emerging markets present
potential for higher alpha. EM markets remain under-researched and
inefficient. AWEM leverages WhiteOak's investment approach to capture the
higher alpha potential in these markets. No fixed management fee. Manager
remuneration is aligned with alpha generation and hence shareholders'
interest. The Investment Manager is remunerated solely as a function of
outperformance over the benchmark.
4 Data as at 30 April 2025. AUM data refers to aggregate assets under
management or investment advisory for WhiteOak Group, excluding retail assets
of the domestic AMC (£ 1.71bn).
Further Information
For further information on the Company's investment strategy and portfolio
construction approach as well as details of the portfolio market cap, regional
and sector composition please refer to the latest factsheet.
Investment Objective
To achieve long-term capital appreciation, primarily investing in equity and
equity-related securities that provide exposure to global emerging markets.
Summary of Investment Policy
The Company shall invest primarily in securities admitted to trading on any
stock exchange (which may include stock exchanges in Developed Markets) that
provide exposure to companies that are domiciled in Global Emerging Markets
(EMs), or that are domiciled in Developed Markets but at the time of
investment, derive a majority of their economic value, revenues or profits
from, or whose assets or cost base are mainly located in EMs.
The Company's LEI is 254900Z4X5Y7NTODRI75
- Ends -
For further information:
Company Secretary
AWEMT.Cosec@jtcgroup.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 0181
WhiteOak Capital Partners Pte Ltd.
Prashant Khemka Via Burson Buchanan
Fadrique Balmaseda
Ben Hayward
Marex
Mark Thompson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 6711
Eddie Nissen Tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 6713
Oliver Kenyon Tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 6704
Burson Buchanan
Henry Harrison-Topham Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Henry Wilson AWEM@buchanancomms.co.uk
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